Mavericks made their stance on D'Angelo Russell crystal clear

Days before the Dallas Mavericks signed D'Angelo Russell to a two-year deal, all signs were already pointing to him coming to Dallas. He was their top choice, and the Mavs were his top choice, making this signing a no-brainer. The writing was on the wall for Russell to join former teammates Max Christie and Anthony Davis on the Mavericks, and Nico Harrison and company didn't waste much time getting this deal agreed upon.

Even though some Mavericks fans have been skeptical of the team signing Russell and trusting him to carry a heavy offensive load, he is going to be an incredible fit, and Dallas has made their thoughts about him clear. With the Mavs not signing another high-level point guard in free agency, it shows that they have an overwhelming amount of trust in Russell, and they believe that he can give them the production they need until Kyrie Irving returns from his ACL tear (likely at some point in 2026).

The Mavs' belief in a timely Irving return seems high, as Nico Harrison has already stated on the record that he is ahead of schedule with his rehab, and if they didn't have this belief, they would've traded for another guard who brings more than Russell.

Mavericks are betting big on D'Angelo Russell's bounce-back

It's undeniable that Russell had a down year last season for the Los Angeles Lakers and Brooklyn Nets, as he averaged a career-low 12.6 points per game and shot career lows from the field (39 percent) and downtown (31.4 percent).

With the Mavs not signing anyone else, they must think that he will be a great fit as the starting point guard for the first half of the season while transitioning into a complementary role once Irving returns. Dallas wanted someone who could run the show adequately by themselves while also possessing the needed skills to play off the ball when needed, and Russell fits this mold to a tee.

This was one of the main reasons that the Mavericks wanted him more than Chris Paul in free agency, and this was a controversial point among fans. Ever since the Mavs were linked to Paul early in the summer, fans wanted him badly, but it was always clear that he wanted to go back home and play in Los Angeles.

This led him to sign with the LA Clippers, but Russell may have been the better option anyways.

Paul is 40 years old, and he likely would've only spent one season in Dallas before retiring or heading elsewhere. On the other hand, Russell wanted to be a Maverick badly, and if he's a good fit, he could find himself being a long-term piece within Jason Kidd's rotation for years to come.

With Russell being a skilled ball handler, facilitator, and shooter, the Mavs may have found themselves the perfect point guard to lead the team until Irving returns. They need a high-level passer to captain the ship to get Davis, Cooper Flagg, and Dereck Lively II involved, and Russell should be able to do this at a high level.

His passing is one of the most underrated parts of his game, and fans will get to see plenty of Russell outlet passes and lobs leading to dunks for his teammates. What fans last season from Russell could disintegrate quickly if Dallas is as good a fit as it seems, and he'll remind the world that he is still a solid point guard in this league.

Russell is in the middle of his prime, and Dallas could be the perfect spot for him to have a bounce-back season. He'll be motivated to play hard for the Mavs since they've shown so much faith in him ahead of next season, and if you read between the lines, you'll see exactly how Dallas feels about him.